Athletes and people who engage in regular physical activity and also have nearsightedness should consider laser surgery, medical experts said.
A Cheng Ching Eye Center survey released on March 27 showed that more people in Taiwan, which has a high prevalence of myopia and other vision conditions, are engaging in physical activities, at 82.9 percent of the population, with about 35.3 percent of the population engaging in regular exercise, the highest level since the survey started in 2013.
Common problems for people who wear eyeglasses while exercising or playing sports is dealing with their lens being smeared with sweat or fogging up, having limited peripheral vision, or having their glasses knocked off, bent or broken, the center said in a news release.
Photo: Chen Chien-chih, Taipei Times
People who wear contact lenses have to deal with dust on windy days, eye dryness due to wearing them for long periods, damage to the cornea from rubbing their eyes and bacterial infection in water-based sports, it said.
“Taiwan is a nation with a large population of nearsightedness and assorted vision conditions,” Taiwan Retina Society board member Tsai Ching-yao (蔡景耀) said.
Thirty to 40 percent of adults have myopia, requiring glasses or contact lenses, which are an inconvenience for sports and exercise, Tsai said, adding that more people are choosing to undergo laser treatments, such as laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, commonly known as LASIK.
However, people must take protective measures during the crucial one-month recovery period after surgery, he said.
They should be more gentle when washing their face, must not rub their eyes and should not go swimming, nor engage in vigorous exercise, said Tsai, who is a resident doctor at Taipei City Hospital Zhongxing Branch.
Eye specialists would evaluate a person’s recovery in the post-surgery period from about one to six months before they can be approved to return to regular sports activities, he said.
Within six months after laser surgery, cornea cells can regenerate, and in most cases people can return to regular exercise and sports, but the treatment is not permanent, and they would need regular checkups at eye clinics, he said.
Laser treatment can provide more stability and improve vision, compared with wearing glasses or contact lenses, and can allow athletes to focus on their performance, Cheng Ching Eye Center director Wu Meng-hsien (吳孟憲) said.
With proper recovery treatment and protective measures from eye clinics, they can return to daily activities within a short period, and after a few weeks can train at higher levels, Wu said.
Having good vision is important for quality performance and focus in exercise or sports, he said.
Laser surgery to correct eye vision, after a thorough evaluation by a medical professional and with post-surgery recuperation and protective measures, would help athletes and sports enthusiasts overcome limitations due to myopia and other eye conditions, he said.
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